Exhaust System Service & Repair

Weíve all heard a car or truck in our
neighborhoods that
needs a new muffler.
But thereís more to the exhaust system than
just the muffler.

The exhaust system has three main functions:

To safely get
hot exhaust
gas from the engine out the tailpipe

Treats the exhaust to
remove harmful pollutants

Muffle the engine
noise

Exhaust gas is poisonous. You donít want
it getting into the passenger compartment. For example, carbon
monoxide can be deadly. Thatís why you should never run your
engine in a closed garage. If you have a
leak in the
exhaust system, exhaust could get into the
passenger cabin and make you sick or even kill you.

If you smell exhaust in the vehicle,
roll down your windows and get it inspected.
You may smell or see exhaust coming from the engine compartment
or under the vehicle if you have a leak. Sometimes the sound
from an exhaust leak is loud and obvious. Sometimes itís a
ticking sound when you start the engine that goes away as you
drive. That could be a small crack or a
bad fitting
that leaks when itís cold but seals up when the metal heats and
expands.

Now, letís address the
environmental issues for our own communities.
Exhaust gas contains a number of pollutants and
particulates. The catalytic converter scrubs some of
those harmful substances. And diesel vehicles have systems to
deal with soot.

DID YOU KNOW?

Carbon monoxide
is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths. It's a
dangerous and potentially lethal toxin. Excessive exposure to
auto exhaust can cause brain damage and even death. If you
see, smell or hear exhaust anywhere but the tailpipe, get an
auto inspection right away.

Catalytic converters eventually
wear out and need to be replaced. Theyíre expensive so
you want to help them last as long as possible by keeping the
fuel system clean and replacing your air filter.
These components need to be tested for function with an
emissions test from time to time.

And that leaves the muffler. The beauty of getting a new muffler
is that you can suit your taste: Some want whisper quiet and
others like a little rumble and some like a roar when they
cruise down our area highways.

Exhaust Service

Your exhaust system is more than a muffler. In some ways it
works like a chimney in your house, directing the byproducts of
burning fuel away from the people inside. The exhaust system
also controls noise and funnels the dangerous carbon monoxide
away from the passenger. Your exhaust system also incorporates
a catalytic converter which Is used to control harmful emissions
generated by the burning of fuel. The exhaust system also
provides a certain amount of back pressure that is required by
the engine to improve its fuel burning efficiency and increase
low RPM performance. Key components of your exhaust system
include:

Exhaust Pipes:

Designed specifically for each model, this pipe is used to
properly route exhaust to the back of the vehicle.

Exhaust Manifold:

Acting like a funnel, the exhaust manifold collects the gases
from all cylinders and releases them through a single opening.
Some engines have two exhaust manifolds.

Catalytic Converter:

The catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions and transforms
pollutants into water vapor and other less harmful gases.

Muffler:

The muffler is a metal container with holes, baffles, and
chambers that reduces exhaust noise.

Resonator:

The resonator works with the muffler to reduce noise.

Tail Pipe:

Found at the back of the car, the tail pipe carries exhaust
gases away from the vehicle.